Sun, Sand, Sickness...what?!

We started the week off great! Monday we drove down with Chica...My parents had a little surprise...A new dog! She's adorable! They rescued her and named her Ami...so my Mom can say, "She's my Ami (Miami)!" Chica and Ami became crazy playmates right away...

Tuesday was of course Last Chance...notice the mess on the floor behind Emree, that's how the whole store is! A mess! A wonderful glorious mess! I get excited just thinking about it! The kids tolerated it very well...

Wednesday was a little more shopping...Marshalls, another fav, who can resist trying on those crazy hats?...and Kung Fu Panda...Hi-yah!

Wednesday night was horrible...it consisted of Emree being so so so sick! Poor girl, all night long! She started feeling better Thursday afternoon and was dying to go to the beach...so we did! Gotta love my parenting skills!...We went to the beach that we used to go when I was little, Cape Florida. It has a lighthouse! How cute is that?!

Rye was missing out on the fun...

It was totally overcast...so no sunscreen...Hooray!

Miracle of miracles got down to just my bathing suit...those of you that know me know that this NEVER happens...decided I need to get over myself!...BTW my hair air-dried so pretty from the salt water...also decided I need to bottle ocean water...


Rye awake from his slumber was able to play with everyone! So fun!

After playing at the beach go home...guess what?! Emree has another sick night! We don't understand! She was fine during the day...weird..

Friday was spent lounging around and we went swimming in the pool...And no your eyes are not deceiving you...I am in a bathing suit AGAIN!!...I'm on a roll...The kids love to play with Popi in the pool...It's kinda of crazy to be in the pool that you played in growing up with your kids...I could have closed my eyes and been ten again trying to synchronize swim with Catherine...

We came home Saturday...me driving home while I was sick!...We left Nana Banana and Popi with a little souvenir, our disgusting germs! Sorry!...Rye and Rett have now had it since we have been home and I just know Joey has it coming...sucks to be him!!!

Just wanted to add that my Mom deserves Nana of the Year Award...we came down, she was already feeling down from a horrible fall...then we make a disaster of her house by just being there and then on top of that we throw up all over her house!! She was in the thick of it more than I was...she was doing all the laundry and trying to get the stains out of carpets...it really was horrendous! But she did it lovingly and willingly nursing her sick little grandkids! Thanks Mom!

What time is it? SUMMERTIME!!

The end of the school year is the best time of the year! I love the feeling of having the whole Summer ahead of you!

Emree had her dance recital this past weekend...I don't know if the other parents knew, but she was the star of the show...

This was her fourth year of dance! I can't even believe that she can say that! I do love it when she's on stage...this is sad but, I love putting make up on her...She really is like my very own, very crazy, very big doll....



So You Think You Can Dance has nothing on this dance machine!...Emree also has great talent...=)



Rett is ready for Summer with a nice buzz cut...Rett and Rye's smiling faces are due to the anticipation of going down to Nana Banana and Popi's house to kick off Summer! We are so excited for a week of F-U-N!!

Update on Chica and Rocky... BFF!...


Can't wait to go down to Miami and take tons of pics this week!! Happy Summer Ya'll!!!

Happy Belated Birthday Hilarry!!

Hilarry is one of my best friends from my childhood. It all started when my Mom used to babysit her everyday when we we three, and we have been close friends ever since. She is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I know. She lives in Phoenix but, I've been so lucky to be able to see her once a year when she is visiting her parents in Atlanta for the Summer. I treasure this time seeing her and I'm ALWAYS bawling when I have to leave her...I'm crying just thinking about it! She loves my kids and I always tell Joey that if something happens to me he has to marry Hilarry because she would love my kids almost as much as I do (and she's smokin'). I love you Hils, Happy Birthday!!!

BTW...her blog is awesome it's... www.msblankenship.blogspot.com

Here she is in all her smokin' hot glory...



Last Summer in Atlanta...



my seventh birthday party...



Me, my brother Eric, and Hilarry as little munchkins...



Seriously, we couldn't be cuter...

N.K.O.T.B. FOREVER!!!

Just happened to catch the reunion on the Today show this morning! I thought at first it was some kind of joke! But it wasn't! I couldn't believe the crowd also! One of the biggest they've had, and they were all sticking it out in the pouring rain...alas, I am not the new kids #1 fan....I liked them from the end of fifth grade to the beginning of seventh grade. I was hot for Donnie...who did you like?


It was so funny to see them. The songs brought back lots of memories of me and Catherine trying to memorize ALL the dance moves to EACH song...how hilarious!!

It's A Girl!

We have lost it in the Snider home! We've taken in another dog in hopes that she and Rocky will be best friends. Her name is Chiquita Banana (Mom thought you would like that!), but we'll shorten it to "Chica". How could we resist a face like this...




So poised and graceful...


Emree, you can just imagine, is thrilled to have another girl in the house. Joey asked if we could consider this as the last little girl that I so desperately want...uh, I don't think so babe...it's still a dog...



Friendship blossoming already...Emree said they could also be wife and husband, she then started talking about puppies...whoa nellie! Fortunately for us Rocky is no longer a "man" and we don't have to worry about that...

Mother's Day Tea

Emree's class put together a program for all the Moms. It was really sweet. And Emree has me so pegged...She told me the morning of (with a sassy attitude) that she thought I would cry and I asked her why and she said "Because we're singing sweet songs." I told her just for that, I wasn't going to cry, and I was going to embarrass her by walking with a limp, crossing my eyes, curling my lips, and drooling at the same time. I demonstrated this for her and the look on her face was pure horror! Well she won, because I did cry, but only a little...


Here she is singing on the stage...




They made cute little picture frames and performed a special poem in class...

As a side note, it was interesting to see the other Moms...If you get an invitation to a Mother's Day Tea do you think cotton tank top, REALLY short shorts, and flip flops, and on top of that, all tattoos exposed (actually I bet it wasn't all of them...scary) on arms, legs, neck, and back? It made me wonder why I even bothered to change five times, because even my worst outfit wasn't that bad after all...

Anyway, I love this little squirrel girl and she made me feel very special!

Sunday Best

My Mom used to take pictures of us before we left for church...which is a genius idea. So I decided to give it a try the past couple Sundays. It works perfect, well...kind of, except the kids will have this memory of their crazed Mom on the floor, bending down, putting one child here, and pushing one child there, trying to keep the dog away, attempting to have them look and smile at the same time at the camera, and of course, like most people, trying not to be late! I think everyone should try this, it makes Sunday morning a real treat!

This is sad but this is one of the better ones. Note to self, hide baba from Rye...

Solo snapshots...the kids are growing annoyed with me...


Rye is giving sexy eyes to the camera..

We tried out a new do for Emree...Love it!...Don't love what looks like the green aloe plant coming out of Emree's nose in the first pic...was worried that might happen while taking the pic, but thought the fancy hair out shined the picture flaw...

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Have I mentioned that Rye loves our dog? Sunday night Dan and Emily stopped by and we heard belly laughter in the kitchen. When we checked it out it was Rye and the dog totally making out! Rye just thought it was hilarious! We were all so grossed out but, couldn't stop laughing enough to stop it...

That is Rocky's tongue fully involved in Rye's mouth...tasty! Next post is me and Joey...sorry for that visual...